Masonry mortar gauging machine



May 3 M51 K. H. TENGSTEDT ETAL 2,551,911

MASONRY MORTAR GAUGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

40 lum @a May 8, 1951 K. H. TENGSTEDT ErAL 2,551,911

MAsoNRY M01-Tm GAUGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Henry M. Peper i 54 90 90 JNVENTORS 82 BY Maaiszm May 8 1951 K. H. TENGs'rEDT ErAL 2,551,911

MAsoNRY MoR'rAR GAUGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Karl H. fangs/edf Henry M. Peper I INVENTORS Patented May 8, 1951 OFFICEl MASON'RYMOBQTAR GAUGING MACHINE Karl H. Tengstedt and Henry M. Peper, Baltimore, Md.

Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,124

(Cl. Y2-130) 14 Claims. l

rIfhis invention relates to a mortar gauging machine the primary object of which is t'o assist the operator in applying an' even predetermined layer' or thickness of mortar vertically upon a masonry block.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described' which is especially applicable for vertically mortaring glass blocks'.

A still further' object oi" this invention is to provide a device of the character described which permits the operator to apply an even and solid layer of mortar on vertical sides of glass blocks or other masonry blocks including means for varying the thickness of the mortar applied.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the gauging frames are so arcuated as to prevent spread of mortar to the sides of the blocks while mortar is being applied to a desired verticalY side of the blocks.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a mortar gauging machine in which. the gauging frames may be adjustably opened and closed in response to a foot-actuated mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which will take the guess work out of applying a desired layer or thickness of mortar on a vertical side of a glass or other masonry block and which permits the operator to carry out the mortaring process rapidly, eiiiciently, and accurately. 'I'he device of the instant invention will additionally be helpful to the architect in designing a structure requiring masonry blocks interconnected by evenly spaced mortar.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred ernbodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the device, some parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view showing a detail of construction;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of section line 5-6` of Figure 4; and

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Figure '7 is a sectional view 'taken substantially in the plane of section line imi oi Figure 6.r

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at l0. is any suitable table, preferably constructed of metal, having a table top l2 to the underside of which is secured diagonally extending bars E13. The legs I6 are preierably bifurcated at their upper ends to straddle the bars lllk and to be securedy thereto by meansA of rivets or bolts i8. The bottoms of the legs are provided with horizontally extending internally threaded bores for receiving the screw threaded ends of bracing bars 2@ interconnecting the legs and retained on the legs by means of space nuts 22 about each leg.

As seen clearly in Figures 2 and 3, a masonry block support 2t is provided which is a substantially rectangular, preferably metallic table top 2S having a depending shaft 28 which extends through a central aperture 3@ in the table top I2. To the underside of the table top l2 is secured as by welding a sleeve member 32 which slidably receives the shaft 23. As seen in Figure 2, the sleeve 32 is vertically split as at et and further provided with horizontally extending internally threaded spaced lugs 36 which receive a clamping screw 38 having a handle portion 4i? at one end thereof. Thus by tightening the screw 38 the shaft 28 can be secured to the sleeve 32 in any desired adjusted position. It will further be seen that the masonry block support 2d is also rotatably adjustable upon the table top I2. With reference to the table top 2t, it will be seen that spaced arcuated slots 32 are provided for engageably receiving screw threaded nuts lili depending from the horizontally extending arms of an angle member lit. Nuts t8 engage the free ends of the screws it for tightening the angle iron #E6 in any desired angular position upon the table top 26. The angle iron t6 serves as a means for positioning a masonry block for alignment with the gauging frame to be described hereinafter. If desired, a cushion top 48 may be secured to the table top 25. Also, the table top 26 is provided at its undersurface with diagonally extending stiffener braces El! similar in construction to the diagonally extending members it beneath the table top l2.

At this point the means for mounting the split gauging frame upon the table lil will be described. Secured by means of appropriate screws 5l and nuts 52 to a side of the table I0 and resting upon the top thereof is a block or bearing 54 having an axial bore extending therethrough. A shaft 56 extends through the block 54 and is rotatable therein being held in position in the block by means of an appropriate screw 58 at one end of the shaft. Fixed to the other end of the shaft is an angulated supporting arm 60 and as shown clearly in the drawings the shaft 56 is secured to the angulated supporting arm at a corner thereof. Carried by the shaft 56 intermediate one end of the block 54 and the inner surface of the supporting arm 6B is a tubular member 62. About said tubular member 62 is wound a tensioning coil 64 one terminal 66 of which engages an aperture in the supporting arm 60, the other terminal 58 of which engages a selected one of a series of apertures 'IB in the block 54. Removably secured to the supporting arm G as by appropriate screws l2 is a substantially L-shaped gauging frame 14. As will be seen clearly in Figures 5 and 6, the shaft 56 extends through suitably aligned apertures in the supporting arm 6) and gauging frame I4 and the members 60 and 'I4 are secured for rotation to the shaft 54 by means of an appropriate washer 'IE and nut 'I8 at the end of the shaft. To protect the block 54, the tensioning spring 64 and the associated parts a suitable cover 80 is provided about the block. It should be borne in mind at this point that a pair of opposing gauging frames I4 are provided and consequently while one means for attaching the gauging frame 'I4 to the table I0 has been described hereinabove, a second means exactly the same in construction to the rst is also provided spaced from the second on the table I0. It should further be remembered at this point that the tensioning springs 64 interconnecting each of the blocks 54 with the supporting arms 6U and the gauging frames 'I4 normally urge the gauging frame 'I4 into an open position as shown in Figure 1 and that the tension of the springs 64 can be adjusted by selectively positioning the terminals 5B thereof in any one of the desired apertures 'I0 in the block 54.

Adjacent the bottom end of the supporting arms 60 a pair of parallel brackets 82 are provided having elongated slots 84 for slidably receiving a pair of lugs or pins 86 extending laterally from the bottom or angulated portion of each of the supporting arms 65. The parallel plates 32 are held in a spaced apart position by means of a sleeve member 88 through which extends a rod screw threaded at both ends to receive tightening nuts S0. The sleeve member 88 is further provided with an enlarged depending portion 92 which is internally screw threaded to receive a vertically extending rod 94 held in position within the member 92 by means of a suitable closure nut 95. The rod 94 extends substantially to the bottom of the table IG and is provided with a suitable turnbuckle 98 for adjusting the overall length of the rod 94. The bottom of the vertically extending rod 94 is provided with an internally threaded socket |00 to which is secured a horizontally extending sleeve |52 having a rod |04 extending therethrough and secured upon the sleeve |02 by means of suitable nuts |05. Welded or secured to the tubular member |02 is a treadle plate |08 which is integral with the sleeve member III) rotatably journalled about one of the interconnecting brace members 20 of the table Il). Thus it will be seen that by depressing the treadle |08 the lugs 86 are actuated to move outwardly in the slots 84 urging the opposed gauging frames 'I4 to a closed position against the tension of the spring 64. By releasing the treadle plate |08, the tensioning spring B4 will urge the opposed gauging frames I4 into an open position.

At this point it is well to note that the gauging frames I4 are provided with an inner planar surface, that is the surface abutting a masonry block or block of glass and an outer bevelled surface I I2, the purpose of which will be set forth in the description of the operation of the device which follows.

In practical operation, the treadle Il is depressed so that the opposed gauging frames 'I4 are retained in a closed position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. A masonry block or glass block to be vertically mortared is positioned upon the adjustable block support 24 and adjusted for alignment with the planar surface of the gauging frame 'I4 by means of the angles 46, which as shown in Figure 3 are adjustable in arcuated slots 42 for either left hand or right hand operators. Because the gauging frames 'I4 are of a predetermined thickness and hence spaced from a vertical side of the masonry block I I4, mortar can be applied by a trowel to the vertical sides of the block |I4 so that the outer surface of the mortar is flush or even with the outer surface of the gauging frames 14, the bevels I I2 being employed to permit proper packing of the mortar against the inner edges of the frames and also to simplify the trowelling or smoothing of the mortar so that its outer surface lies flush with the outer surface of the frames. When the treadle plate |08 is released the tensioning spring 64 will urge the frames 'I4 into an open position, and when the masonry block is removed it has thereon a layer of mortar of predetermined thickness to be employed in any building construction. By making the frames 'I4 removable upon the supporting arms 6D, frames of dii-ferent thickness may be employed whenever it is desired that different thicknesses or layers of mortar on the vertical sides of a masonry block is called for. It should be noted in this connection that the spread apart or open positions of the gauging frames 'I4 can be limited by a stop means including angle irons IIS secured to the inner brackets B2 having a screw threaded aperture for engageably receiving a screw I I 8 and a nut |20, the free end of the screw I I8 abutting the underside of the table top I2, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A mortar gauging machine comprising a support, a block supporting member vertically and rotatably adjustable upon said support, a pair of opposed gauging frames carried by said support, means for opening and closing said frames, and means for adjustably positioning a block relative to said frames.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned means includes a treadle.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned means includes a resilient member normally urging said frames to an open position.

4. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid rst-mentioned means includes a stop member for limiting the spread apart position of said frames.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said rst-mentioned means includes a resilientl member normally urging said frames to an open position.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first-mentioned means includes a treadle.

7. A mortar gauging machine comprising a table, a block supporting member positioned y above and supported by said table, means for adjusting said member vertically relative to said table, a pair of opposed gauging frames carried by said table, means for opening said frames, means operable for closing said frames, and means carried by said supporting member for adjustably positioning a block relative to said frames.

8. The combination of claim '7 wherein said opening means includes a pair of spaced bearings secured to said table, shafts rotatably journalled in said bearings, angulated bars secured intermediate their ends to said shafts, said frame members being removably secured to said angulated bars, and adjustable tensioning means interconnecting said bearings and said angulated bars normally urging said frame members into an open position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said closing means includes a pair of spaced brackets having elongated slots adjacent their ends, lugs at the free ends of said angulated bars slidably received in said slots, a vertically extending rod, means securing the upper end of said rod to said brackets, and a treadle terminally pivoted to said table and the lower end of said rod for reciprocating said brackets.

l0. The combination of claim 7 wherein said first-mentioned means includes a vertically eX- tending sleeve secured to the underside of the top of said table, said table top being provided with an aperture communicating with said sleeve, a shaft carried by said supporting member and slidable in said sleeve, and means for securing said shaft in vertically adjusted position to said sleeve.

l1. The combination of claim '7 wherein said last-mentioned means includes spaced arcuated slots in said supporting member, an angle iron, threaded lugs depending from said angle iron and extending through said slots, and nuts on said lugs for securing said angle irons in adjusted horizontal position on said supporting member.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said rst-mentioned means includes a vertically extending sleeve secured to the underside of the top of said table, said table top being provided with an aperture communicating with said sleeve, a shaft carried by said supporting member and slidable in said sleeve, and means for securing said shaft in vertically adjusted position to said sleeve.

13. The combination of claim l2 wherein said opening means includes a pair of spaced bearings secured to said table, shafts rotatably journalled in said` bearings, angulated bars secured intermediate their ends to said shafts, said frame members being removably secured to said angulated bars, and adjustable tensioning means interconnecting said bearings and said angulated bars normally urging said frame members into an open position.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said closing means includes a pair of spaced brackets having elongated slots adjacent their ends, lugs at the free ends of said angulated bars slidably received in said slots, a vertically extending rod, means securing the upper end of said rod to said brackets, and a treadle terminally pivoted to said table and the lower end of said rod for reciproeating said brackets.

KARL H. TENGS'IEDT. HENRY M. PEPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 820,706 Dezendorf May 15, 1906 823,593 Fisher June 19, 1906 

